To be annoyed at the Aldi staff

[Outandabout43]

I've noticed in the last few months that whenever I go to Aldi the checkout staff are always chatting to colleagues over their headset. Ive noticed it in a lot of different Aldis that I have been to. I wouldn't mind so much if the conversation was in regards to the store / work, but more often then not its about plans for the weekend etc. I'm not saying its all staff as some really are friendly and lovely, but am i wrong to think the ones that do are rather rude? It really gets my back up, the same as when the customer is having a phone conversation when being served.

As long as my shopping gets checked out I dont care.
It makes no difference to me if they are making plans for the weekend.

When I’m at the checkout I try to ask them a question about one of my purchases - just to try and engage them.
Why do you need to engage them unless it is about something specific? As long g as they are scanning and not leaving their chair to ho and ha e a natter, why does it matter.

They are there to work, not to socialise. I hate it when I'm in a shop waiting to be served and the staff are ignoring you to have a private conversation.
Thats a different situation though.
As long as they are sca ning when you are going through the checkout im not seeing a problem.

I have only seen it at the little Sainsbury's near me. Find it really annoying as they do it all the time while actually ringing your shopping through. And it's embarrassing when you think they are talking to you and you reply.

Our local aldi is great, polite courteous and hard working staff. Our local Lidl is terrible, they text and check their phone while on the cash desk. It’s so rude, you are there to do a job not answer your texts. I thought it was maybe just one person and they were waiting on an important call but I’ve noticed they all do it, it’s so unprofessional. I’ve worked in customer facing jobs for years and it’s a huge no no.

o have noticed Superdrug chaff chat amongst themselves which is quite rude as well,

maybe I just expect everyone to treat me as I would if I was working.

One time, he wished me a happy new year and I asked him if he thought everyone celebrated January 1st.
Why be a dick to someone?

But what if it isn't your new year? What if I'm Jewish or another religion/ethnicity that celebrates at a different time? I just think that you shouldn't bang on about it unless you know the person celebrates.

I join in

That’s just silly. I suspect you of being a Reform shill trying to make us woke progressives look bonkers.

Aldi and Lidl are not on my list of experiences to enjoy. They sell me cheap food and I accept that it isn't going to be a pleasant experience, but it will be vastly cheaper than others. I use the self service tills everytime, haven't been on a manned till for years .

There is a Tesco close by where I heard the staff chatting/slagging off customers over the headset! 🫣

Don't mind shop staff chatting away on the headsets at all. Bad mouthing other customers within earshot is where it crosses the line. That is unprofessional.

And then people come on here to complain the staff are ‘rude’.

Is it any wonder dealing with people like this all day?

Noticed this in the local Co-op - the lady serving me was literally cackling and talking really loudly at something her colleague was saying on the headset - wouldn't mind if it was something to do with work but it definitely wasn't.
I don't think she acknowledged me at all apart from stopping talking to look at me and say "£6.80" very abruptly. No please or thank you- I just find it really rude.

But what if it isn't your new year? What if I'm Jewish or another religion/ethnicity that celebrates at a different time? I just think that you shouldn't bang on about it unless you know the person celebrates.

One sentence is hardly banging on about it.
Are you Jewish or are you getting offended for someone else.
Why not just take a cheerful sentence in the spirit it was intended?

Yes, also our local Home Bargains and Co-op. It is very strange and it now seems to be an acceptable thing. I think it is incredibly rude and wonder why the shop managers think this is okay.

Not headsets, but those Tesco click and collect workers with their giant multi-storey trolleys, shouting their life story to colleague while you're trying to squeeze through to the yogurts. A pest on them!

Whatever religion or ethnicity you are, January 1st is January 1st. It goes from one calendar year to another, like 2025 to 2026. Of course, you might not want somebody to have a happy year, in which case just don't say anything. There's no need to snap back at someone who's wishing you a happy year.

You're lucky she looked at you and said '£6.80'. In one shop, the assistant rang up the amount and didn't look at me or say anything. I was supposed to read the total on the display and hand over the money (I pay cash). I didn't. I just waited until she reluctantly spoke to me.

In what way is it not a pleasant experience?

You're extrapolating. At no point did I say I snapped or was in any way rude/short.

Any response except “Thank you-happy new year to you too” would have been rude. The same way you respond to any seasonal greeting.

You were annoyed because he wished you happy new year. It's not like he was offensive. Most people would just say thanks you too regardless of if they celebrate it or not.
Still at least it would have given him and his colleagues something to laugh about at break time.
You sound like hard work.

How to turn a friendly inconsequential bit of chat into a grievance, FFS.

I think the reply you said you gave was rude. Someone was saying something well meant to you. There's no need to correct them. Just smile, thank them (if you can bring yourself to do so) and get on with your day.

mumsnet trope.

More extrapolation. Turn it into a grievance? Hardly. I again just reiterate that perhaps you shouldn't say anything.